We Won't Let This Be the End

Part 2: Chapter 3

(Trigger Warning)

It was another grey day. Patton sat tightly curled up in Virgil's hoodie on the porch swing. The wind blew harsher this day than it had on previous ones. Patton stared out as the rain fell down into the already drowned surrounding fields of the Mindscape. It had been so long since he had last seen the blue sky, felt the warm heat of the sun, or smelled the flowers being blown with the soft breeze. Patton's frown deepened.

What would even be the point? Without all four of us here together...

Patton drew the hoodie closer to him, drawing his knees closer to his chest he felt a fresh wave of tears threaten to make their appearance. He was lost in his thoughts but he could vaguely hear himself humming "You Are My Sunshine". The dark clouds continued to roll across the sky.

Behind him, Patton heard the palace door open and the creaking of the porch boards as someone approached him. He felt the swing shift as the other person sat down next to him. Turning his head, he saw that Roman had joined him.

Roman wasn't in his usual princely attire. Today it seemed that he settled for a pair of blue skinny jeans, a red flannel shirt, and a pair of red converse. You could see the light curls in his brown hair as it wasn't done up like it usually was either. The usual gold flecks in his brown eyes were dulled to a rusty bronze, his entire face weighted down by guilt and sadness from losing Virgil.

Upon noticing Patton's gaze, Roman leaned back and raised one of his arms up. Patton was confused for only a moment before taking the gesture and moving himself to curl up under Roman's arm. Once Patton was in place, Roman's arm wrapped protectively around him and the two sat in silence as they continued to stare out into the field.

"I hate it. I hate this."

Patton looked up at Roman's face, it was filled with anger and frustration. Patton could feel that Roman was slightly shaking behind him, from anger or sadness he couldn't tell at this point. He wouldn't say it out loud, but he hated it too.

"I've searched high and low. Through every bit of both the Imagination and the Daydream territories that I could reach and I can't find anything. No magical witch or mystical creature has been able to answer my questions. Guide my quest. I feel like such a failure! What kind of prince can't fight off the monsters! Can't save the day!"

Patton scooched away as he watched as Roman roughly pushed himself off the swing in frustration. His hands were clenched into fists as he started yelling through his anger.

"I ran away! I left when faced with danger. I left Deceit and Remus, my own brother, behind!

Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder roared in the distance. The more worked up Roman became the worse the rain started to pour. Roman's hands made their way into his hair. Everything that he had been holding in, spilling out in that moment.

"I couldn't protect them! I could hardly protect you! I couldn't even protect... Virgil."

Roman's shoulders slumped and stood defeated in front of Patton. His arms had dropped to his sides and his head hung low. His shaking was now visible and Patton could hear quiet sobs coming from him. Patton stood up from his spot and walked over to Roman. He stood in front of him and raised his hands. He held Roman's face and looked up at him. Using his thumbs he wiped away the tears that were falling. Roman's lip quivered.

"We... We did everything we could while we were back in the Darkscape. We faced many challenges and creatures that none of us could ever have even imagined. We fought till we couldn't anymore and we left with the full intention of going back."